Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

In Post-war Japan as a Sea Power, Alessio Patalano incorporates new, exclusive source material to develop an innovative approach to the study of post-war Japan as a military power. This archival-based history of Asia's most advanced navy, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), looks beyond the traditional perspective of viewing the modern Japanese military in light of the country's alliance with the US. The book places the institution in a historical context, analysing its imperial legacy and the role of Japan's shattering defeat in WWII in the post-war emergence of Japan as East Asia's 'sea power'.

About the Author

Alessio Patalano is Lecturer in East Asian Warfare and Security at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Japanese Sea Power: From Kaigun to KaijiChapter 1: Traditions and Ethos: The Emperor's NavyChapter 2: History and Memory: Creating the Imperial LegacyChapter 3: Legacy and Experience: Shaping the New NavyChapter 4: Ethos and Propaganda: A Century-old Navy with New Men and CapabilitiesChapter 5: Strategy and Policy: The "Sea Power" of the PacificChapter 6: Doctrine and Fleet: A Balanced ForceConclusions: The Recent Past and the Near FutureBibliographyIndex